Can someone explain Latin declensions to me?

Question

I've done various searches online, and found an explaination on a certain online encyclopedia, but it didn't help at all! I need something straight forward.

Answer 1

Latin declensions are the endings you put on nouns to indicate their role in the sentence and their relationship to the other nouns of the sentence. For example, miles is the subject form of "soldier", militem is the direct object form, militis is the possessive form, militi is the indirect object form, and milite is the "ablative" form, the opposite of the indirect object form (the indirect object indicates motion toward, the ablative indicate motion away). These are all singular forms, the plurals are milites (subject and direct object), militum (possessive), and militibus (indirect object and ablative). Different nouns take different sets of the suffixes. This is "declension", how you "decline" a noun.

You can compare this with how we decline English nouns: soldier (subject, direct object, indirect object), soldier's (possessive), soldiers (plural subject, direct object, and indirect object), soldiers' (plural possessive).

Answer 2

I think Wikipedia presents a perfect explanation of declensions:
5 declensions of nouns
2 of adjectives
and also pronouns

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_declension

Answer 3

in case you fish around on the Latinum podcast, you will locate what you elect. certainly, the podcast won't in straightforward terms furnish help to come again as much as hurry, it is going to enable you to hurry earlier than the class besides. the 1st 15 classes manage the declensions. basically pay attention to section A of each lesson (the grammar section). once you have greater time, circulate back and hear section B and C of each lesson, which will strengthen your understanding.